Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi pleaded with MPs for his political life today on the eve of crucial confidence votes.

Barred Chinese clothing shipments are piling up at European ports, prompting warnings of retail stock shortages and higher store prices just weeks after the EU moved to stem an import surge deemed a threat to jobs.

European and Asian nations united today to demand that the US drop its duties on imported steel or face the billions of pounds in retaliation against products ranging from oranges to Harley-Davidson motorcycles.